Men of a Certain Age: Creators Give Up on Saving Cancelled Series

Published: August 27, 2011

Mike Royce, the co-creator of cancelled Men of a Certain Age, says that he and co-creator/star Ray Romano are throwing in the towel. The pair have been working behind the scenes in an effort to find a new home for their TNT series.

Sorry I haven’t been in touch. Unfortunately there’s been nothing to report. And at this point, since we want to be straight with you guys, I have to tell you that we’ve kind of reached the end of the road. Hard to admit, but it’s true.

If you can think of a network, we called them. Of course, “Men of a Certain Age” doesn’t really belong on certain networks. But we called them too. We called everybody. We tried online, satellite, alternate content providers, corporate sponsorship, Taxi TV, filmstrips… everything. We’ve exhausted every possibility and then some.

I was certainly hoping – actually, naively expecting a different outcome. I thought somebody would pick us up. Ray and I feel strongly that there are places where MOACA would not only be an excellent fit, but a home run. But we couldn’t persuade others to see it that way. And at a certain point, you gotta move on.

Sure, a miracle could still happen somehow. So please don’t “unlike” this page or unsign the petition. It’s still good to be able to show the world how much you guys care about the show.

We can’t thank all you enough. So many of you have worked your asses off to help us find the show a home. To see the support continue to pour in now weeks and weeks later is really incredible.

It’s also hard to express how grateful we are to the awesomely talented 200+ people who made the show. The cast and the crew were not only the best but made it a joy to come to work each day.

And we also want to thank TNT. I know it’s natural to look at it like “they’re the ones who cancelled it,” but a more accurate viewpoint is “they’re the ones who put it on.” Honestly, the notion that a show about the lives of three 50 year olds was on television at all in this day and age is a miracle. It shouldn’t be, but it is. On top of that TNT gave us the rare opportunity to do the show the way we wanted.

The end result is, we’re proud of the work, proud of the critical response and mostly proud that the show seems to have secured a deep place in people’s hearts that isn’t always reached. Like some of you, we feel a little like we’ve lost a friend. But the good news is, the 22 episodes live on. They even end in a good place (if too soon).

So think of us as not as a cancelled show but a “mini-series by accident.”

Because really that’s our biggest hope: if you are a fan, turn other people on to it. We want it to live on. Hey, for better or for worse, the ratings tell us there are plenty of people out there who haven’t seen “Men of a Certain Age.” We hope they check it out.

Thanks, and see you on the hill.
—Mike Royce & Ray Romano

Men of a Certain Age ran for two seasons on TNT, beginning in December of 2009. The first season of Men attracted a 1.0 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 3.2 million total viewers. The season started off strong but viewership dwindled as the season went on.

Year two kicked off part one of season two in December 2010 and essentially matched the lowest-rated episode of season one. The later episodes did even worse and averaged a poor 0.5 demo rating with 2.16 million viewers. In the spring, the second half of the season did worse with an average of a 0.4 demo and 1.59 million.

TNT cancelled the series in mid-July, a week or so after the defacto series finale aired.

What do you think? Did you like the TV series? Why do you think it didn’t catch on? Why did so many who started watching, stop?

Never watched Ray Romano before I watched this beauty of a show MOACA. Most of what I watch on TV is pablum, synthesised compressed entertainment for the masses. As long as those masses are under the age of 18 and alternating their attention between TV and their electronic connection to the outside world. Men of a Certain age not only held my attention, but delivered a constant notion that life for all of us over the age of 40 not only becomes more interesting, but more complex and robust. The highs are better enjoyed and the lows are dips in the road, not the overwhelming end of life fear that they once were to a younger and untested mind…we all share that experience. I will miss this show and the people that decorated my TV world for an hour or so each week during its run. Thank you for giving us all a show that allowed us to be seen and not ignored, like most of the “entertainment” that flogs us night after boring night.

MOACA kicked ass! It was fresh, honest, funny, original, and all the other things that seem to lead directly to cancellation. Bummer! Another in the long list of great cancelled series.

It must be hard to pour your heart and soul into something, know that it’s great, and have it fail. And simultaneously see all the crap that succeeds. What’s the takeaway when good work doesn’t work? Make crap? Or just keep pounding your head against the wall in hope of random success?

Such good writing, acting and the music was perfect. I told my friends it’s how real people talk and the situations were very “real life”.

I was so hooked I rented the DVD and watched everything on it, including the “commentary”. What can be said? Snooki, Cupcake Wars and 42 shows about crime scenes….. I guess it was doomed from the start.

Just adding to all the comments above–excellent series but the lowest common denominator is the schlock that stays (reality being the current trend–UGH) and this is just pathetic.
No one with a brain has a chance these days.
Phenomenal program, Ray– keep creating.
Andre rocked the show is you ask me…but all three deserved acting kudos.
The writers — producers– deserve so much credit of course–and I hope they keep working and get better at their craft.

I was one of the 10,000+ who signed the facebook petition, and like so many others I thought MOACA had a chance of getting picked up by another network. It’s happened in the past for lesser shows, so why not this one? Alas, it was not meant to be. And I am confident that Mike and Ray did everything within their power to find a new home for the show.

I do not allow myself to become addicted to many TV shows because there’s just not enough free time to watch them, but MOACA is one that managed to slip its syringe of euphoria deep under my skin. I never missed an episode after getting hooked. I’m not one to buy retrospective DVDs, but the memories of MOACA will be long remembered by this loyal fan.

Please thank the 200 people who worked on the show for me. They can be justly proud of what they accomplished.

I am so disappointed that MOACA was canceled. Being one of those men of a certain age I looked forward to each episode and was never disappointed. Joe, Terry and Owen’s lives were my life. I especially enjoyed Andre Braugher as Owen.
I’m really sorry to see this show go. Better promotion by TNT would of helped get more of an audience.

This was one of my favorite shows. The writing, character development and story lines was one of the best on TV. It had a real honesty and depth to the characters and had potential (I thought) for many years of additional shows .

With all the TV channels jumping on the bandwagon for cheaply made…..so called “reality” TV shows ….that are anything but reality situations….and your typical….medical….cop and lawyer shows….this was a breath of fresh air to see on TV.

My hat is off to you guys….and Ray….not bad acting either….you held your own with the best of them.

I guess the viewers need to step up and begin watching and demanding this type of excellent writing and acting on TV….but as suprised as I was to here that the show was
cancelled….I guess in some ways I am not surprised….since one of the biggest shows on is the Jersey Shore…..the viewers are going to have to get smarter….but maybe that’s asking too much.

The show Friday Night Lights also had problems when it first came out….maybe someone like Direct TV would rescue this show….because it sure would be worth it.

And if not…..thanks for making it this far. You have set the bar higher than most shows on TV…..and I thank you for that!

It lost viewership and got cancelled because you can’t make only 8 episodes and call it a “season”, and make the remaining viewers wait months before starting it up again. Its so sad networks do this now.

This is so sad. This seems to be they new wave of tv series. Cancel the good, creative, intelligent shows and keep the crap on the air. What does this say about us Americans??? Ray Romano is so talented, I am sad for him. This show was one of my favorites. It will be sorely missed